“Reich” a Comic Book Series

Blog follower Stephen Wahrhaftig is a comic book enthusiast. He recently contacted me about a current series he discovered entitled “Reich.” It is being created by Elijah J. Brubaker, a cartoonist living in Portland, Oregon. In the first volume of the series, Mr. Brubaker says he is attempting a long-form comic book biography of Reich, one he will tell from his own point of view. I have read the first six issues and find them to be fascinating. His “Notes on the Text,” in the back of each issue, are informative and these appear to me to be quite accurate. 

I tend to be quite skeptical of secondary source materials relating to Reich which purport to describe the details of his life and work. Although these may be well-intentioned and even well researched, they are all too often rife with inaccuracies. The problem is that so much has been written about Reich that’s just plain wrong! Once published in any form, these writings gain the stamp of legitimacy. When others use these materials for their own research and writing, they unwittingly pass along incorrect information, never realizing the published works they have drawn upon contain errors, often egregious.

Then of course there are the downright smears, full of distortions designed only to mock Reich and sensationalize his work. Reich’s scientific work concerning human sexual function is frequently portrayed in a lurid manner that does not reflect his actual approach. This is especially so regarding Reich’s discovery of the biologic function of the orgasm as a method to regulate the body’s energy.

Because of the problematic nature of secondary source materials, I encourage those first discovering Reich to put aside the many interpretations put forth as fact by others. Instead, they should just read his books. For those who do not speak German (many blog followers do), before Reich wrote in English, the original Theodore P. Wolfe translations of the German are the most accurate, as Reich worked with Wolfe to create them. Reich is a marvelous writer. He’s exceptionally clear, easy and enjoyable to read. While there are several biographies of Reich, the two I can recommend without reservation are "Wilhelm Reich and Orgononmy" by Ola Raknes and "Wilhelm Reich: Life Force Discoverer" by James Wyckoff. 

Despite my serious concerns about how Reich is and will be portrayed both in the comic series “Reich,” and by others who choose write about him, I am glad to know there continue to be individuals, such as Mr. Brubaker, who are introducing the science of orgonomy to a segment of the population that otherwise might never have been exposed to it. I realize comic books and graphic novels are no longer just for kids, and have the capacity to be taken seriously in the literary and artistic world, as evidenced by the comic book series "Maus," which won a Pulitzer Prize. Nevertheless, the comic book format lends itself to a younger and very different audience than is typically exposed to and aware of Wilhelm Reich. It is to be hoped that “Reich” the series, as well as Reich, the man, will capture the hearts and minds of this group.   

What follows is a short interview that Mr. Wahrhaftig conducted with Mr. Brubaker especially for this blog. 

Wahrhaftig: How did you become interested in using Reich as a subject for your series?

Brubaker: I first read about Reich when I was a teenager and always considered him an interesting person. The more one reads of Reich the more one realizes he was a deeply complex and conflicted individual and those are the descriptors I would use for most of my favorite literary characters. This means he's a joy to write and the literary voice I have for Reich is easy for me to access. Other reasons I chose Reich, apart from being a character, was the accessibility of his work. There are many documents available to me by and about Reich, making research relatively easy. Even though this research material exists, he remains pretty obscure historically. I can do the research and present Reich to a world that may not know who he is. 

Wahrhaftig: What kind of reactions (good and bad) have you gotten to the series?

Brubaker: Most of the reactions to Reich have been positive. Many comics fans have complimented me for putting out a small affordable comic on a semi-regular basis (something that is almost unheard outside of superhero/action/adventure comics) and many people that know of Reich have been thankful that I'm telling Reich in a pretty straightforward, mostly even-handed manner. I received one email from a gentleman warning me that I might be doing harm to Reich's legacy should I venture too far into the more controversial aspects of Reich's theories. It seemed like he was afraid that I might imply that Reich was a crackpot and begin dismissing him in a similar way that Reich's worst critics did. I have no urge to calm people's fears about how I'm treating the subject manner. I freely admit that the Reich comic is subject to my own interpretation of events and I have no doubt that my interpretation is going to conflict with how others see the man. I have no intention of labeling Reich or trying to explain him or the tragic events of his life. My only intent is to tell as compelling a story as possible.

Wahrhaftig: How many volumes do you predict the series to be?

Brubaker: I'm hoping “Reich” will go to 12 issues. I keep finding great anecdotes and stories about Reich that I want to put into the book while simultaneously wishing to cut out everything nonessential and finish this beast project as soon as possible. Issue 7 was just released at Mocca [the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art] and I'm optimistic issue 8 will be out by Comic-Con [a comic book convention]. 

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Many thanks to Stephen Wahrhaftig for his contribution to this post. He writes about design and marketing at  www.stevewdesign.com. Those who wish to learn more about the comic book series “Reich” can visit Elijah J. Brubaker’s web site at http://elijahbrubaker.com. 

Announcing Guest Posting

This September will mark the one year anniversary of this blog, Wilhelm Reich Today. It has been more successful than I could have imagined and continues to build a worldwide following. It has also been a gratifying experience for me, and the feedback I’ve gotten from my readers demonstrates the positive feelings go both ways. 

As a consequence of this blog, many who knew little or nothing about Wilhelm Reich have visited and learned about the practical application of his work in the present day. Others who have been involved in orgonomy for many years are enjoying the blog. Friends, old and new, have contacted me to say hello and to tell me what they are doing in their lives as well as in the field of orgonomy. 

As Wilhelm Reich Today gears up for it’s second year, I’ve been considering ways to develop and enhance the blog. One big change that I’m making is the introduction of guest posting. This is a common feature of many blogs. The regular host (in this case, me) gets to take a step back and wear the hat of blog follower every so often, as others write the featured post.    

Opening the blog to other contributors, who will bring to it their own voices, perspectives, and areas of interest and expertise, will add a new dimension to Wilhelm Reich Today. Just as my posts are wide-ranging, guest writers will also present their thoughts on diverse subjects related to orgonomy. There is hardly any topic that can’t be brought into clearer focus by drawing on what Reich has given us. I will also be guest posting on other’s blogs from time to time. When I do, I’ll be sure to let you know when and where, so you can follow me there.

Stay tuned as Wilhelm Reich Today continues to grow and develop! 

Nurture Sidelined in Pursuit of Genetic Answers

Research any major health issue in some depth and you will likely find yourself immersed in the world of genetics. From diagnostic evaluation to the treatment of disease and development of therapies, genetics has permeated medical science. More than just health questions are being resolved with genetic investigation. For example, two new genome studies have demonstrated that Jewish people across the globe do belong to a distinct ethnicity with shared ancestry, putting to rest the assertion that Jews are a group of unrelated persons with the same religious beliefs. 

The value and potential of genetics should not be underestimated. Genetic engineering, which alters the structure and characteristics of genes directly in a laboratory, has been responsible for many important medical advances, including the creation of synthetic insulin and human growth hormone. Gene therapy, whereby genes are inserted into a person’s cells and tissues to treat disease, is in its infancy but is being used with some success. And DNA sequencing has allowed researchers to study the molecular structures associated with many human diseases. Notwithstanding, the pursuit of genetic solutions--especially in medicine--is not without cost. There are many moral, ethical, legal and privacy issues in play. Here I will discuss some social implications of genetic medicine from my approach as a psychiatric orgone therapist.  

We know from Wilhelm Reich that very much of who we become as adults, in terms of our physical health and overall sense of well-being, is a consequence of how we were raised as children. Reich understood that experiences, what can be referred to as “nurture” or “environment,” beginning as early as the prenatal period and extending into childhood, are of extreme importance. It is what happens to us that determines the location and extent of what Reich termed “armoring,” the chronic contractions in the body that block the free flow of our biologic energy. 

Reading Reich and understanding his theoretical framework is one thing, but when one treats patients using the therapy he developed, there can be no doubt that traumatic events occurring during the newborn period, infancy and childhood exert a profound, lifelong influence. Reich understood that even the prenatal period was influential, stating in Children of the Future that pelvic armoring in the mother impedes the full bioenergetic functioning of the fetus. 

With emphasis the world over now focused on gene research, my concern is that people are becoming increasingly less inclined to pay attention to and investigate “nurture,” the experiences of early life and their consequences. For example, a recent Stanford University study found some women are “genetically programmed” to have more success losing weight with certain diets. Whether diets can now be effectively tailored to one’s genetic make-up may or may not prove true. What I don’t see is any attention given to a main cause of obesity: the chronic anxiety that comes about as a result of stressful childhood experiences. 

Many overeat to feel less anxious. Those with this problem know just what I’m talking about! But why does eating relieve anxiety? What we know as orgone therapists is that excess fat accumulation in many ways serves the same function as muscular armor. Fat binds energy, and in so doing reduces anxiety. 

One way to reduce obesity in individuals who eat when anxious is with therapy. However, therapy is aways an after-the-fact solution. The problem of obesity could be addressed in large part by preventing anxiety through better childrearing practices. This is but one of countless examples of how “nurture” has been sidelined in favor of genetic explanations.

Then there is the almost daily procession of physical and emotional conditions that are being linked to genetic make-up. Brain aneurysms, heart disease, cancer, depression, anxiety, anger, criminal behavior, shyness and even gambling, along with a multitude of other conditions have all been claimed by researchers to be associated with specific genes. But how far will these cause and effect associations get us? After all, scientists know well that genes do not execute rigid, predetermined programs of development and that they are very responsive to the environment. So, as I see it, even if we completely understood the mechanisms of heredity, it would give us only half of the picture. 

I don’t believe the nature versus nurture question will be solved by gene research, nor do I see a future where our understanding of genetics will prevent and cure virtually all of human illnesses. Yet, with an unceasing focus on the discovery of the next “genetic breakthrough,” the public (influenced of course by the media) is adopting an ever-more rigid and mechanical mindset about human functioning.

The media often overstates the potential of reported research.The Social Issues Research Centre in Great Britain states the “media is often the primary source of science information and, as such, can have a profound impact on how the public views the risks and benefits of scientific advances.” Further it reports that “...because of this influential role, many commentators have been highly critical of the quality of media reporting, suggesting that reporting is ‘hyped,’ irresponsible, and hurtful to the public's understanding of important scientific issues.”

Distorted reporting is more than hurtful to understanding. It raises, unjustifiably, hope in those suffering with disease by implying that treatment of their condition will become available or, worse yet, is even just around the corner. The problem is not just with the media. There are even some in scientific circles who are saying that only funding and time stand in the way of unraveling the mystery of how to correct, and even prevent each and every physical and emotional problem. This overly optimistic attitude has become widespread and there is a growing, and incorrect, belief that genetic solutions will provide the magic cure-all. 

Tremendous improvement in emotional and even physical health is possible with properly conducted psychiatric orgone therapy. These improvements don’t come about with medications, and certainly not with gene therapy. Rather, it is the ability to empathically connect with patients and to slowly and systematically remove armor and allow the expression of emotions buried since childhood. That this is so speaks against the idea that genetics is the dominant factor determining one’s ability to function and lead a happy, healthy life.

I also want to talk about what I call “mechanical mysticism,” the distorted perception that results in a mistaken belief that absolute salvation is possible through science. People routinely associate mysticism with religion, spirituality or the occult, and view science as antithetical to such thinking. We know from Reich that mysticism is much broader. He tells us, in Ether, God and Devil that, “...mysticism comes about when real processes are distorted...and are not in harmony with what is objectively so.” He goes on to say, “...the mystic becomes stuck in the absolute.” 

In mechanical mysticism, the power and possibility of science (or the mechanical) assumes a godlike role. The belief in ultimate salvation at some future time, whether through the arrival of the messiah, or by genetic engineering, is fundamentally mystical. The mechanical mystic working in the world of genetics views genes in much the same way as the religious person views God. Both are seen as being a root cause of human functioning and in both there is placed all hope for human redemption. Thus the person “of religion” and the person “of science” are not, necessarily, so opposite in their thinking.

The popular attitude toward the power and possibility of genetics serve as an especially good example of mechanical mysticism in action. Given this perspective there is the belief that all illness can be prevented or cured through an understanding of genetics, and that ultimately the human race can be perfected--absolute salvation achieved--in this way. 

Mechanical mysticism has the capacity to lead us to the same dark places as religious mysticism. Hundreds of millions have died because of religious mysticism. The endless procession of holy wars throughout the ages stand as testimony to religious mysticism’s deadly potential. Few appreciate the Holocaust was also mystically rooted. 

Between 11 and 17 million people were murdered by Hitler in the name of improving the human species by eliminating those with undesirable genes. His method was by employing eugenics, the study and practice of selective breeding as applied to humans, with the aim of improving the species. It was widely popular in the early decades of the twentieth century, falling into disfavor only after the collapse of Hitler’s regime. Eugenics is an example of mechanical mysticism and it has, in many ways, the same goal as genetic engineering. 

Please remain calm! I am not comparing Hitler’s plan to create a superior race with the whole of modern-day genetic science. But there is an important parallel between genetic engineering and eugenics. Genetic engineering involves direct manipulation of an individual’s genes through molecular cloning and transformation in a lab. Eugenics employs the much less scientific practice of breeding to modify and “improve” the genes. Either way, eugenics and genetic engineering are the same in so far as both involve manipulating genes with the goal of “improvement.” When the underlying belief system is that, through genetic modification or through eugenics, one is going to ultimately “perfect” the human species you can be sure mechanical mysticism is at work.

Of course, the implication that mankind will perfect the human race through genetic science is unfounded. Heaven on earth won’t come by way of science any more than it will come by way of religion. Only preventing armoring, from conception onward, can slowly, generation by generation, bring about the changes in people that will make them happier and healthier. 

In the U.S. alone billions upon billions of dollars are being spent every year on genetic research, and the expenditures in both the public and private sectors continue to skyrocket. Here are a few recent examples. In March 2010, GenomeWeb News reported that the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute plans to spend $76 million over the next five years to study human genomic variation and genetic links to disease. Also in March, Florida lawmakers earmarked $50 million in state funds to entice Maine’s Jackson Laboratory, a genetic research company, to build a $710 million research and medical facility in their state. 

Imagine if even a small fraction of this money was used to research and understand the importance of the prenatal and early childhood period. Imagine what could be done to help parents and other caregivers improve the way children are raised. The benefit to all humanity would be enormous! Only time will tell if we will ever shift away from pure science and back toward simply raising healthy children.

Tune In or Turn Off?

Increasingly, patients, family and friends have been expressing their dismay to me over what they are seeing and hearing on the news. It doesn’t matter what TV channel you watch, what Internet news source you scan, or what radio station you listen to. Every day brings more upsetting stories on all fronts--environmental, economic and political. The continuing oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico is on everyone’s mind and the recent attempted bombing in Times Square reminds us the menace of terrorism remains real. There is no end to bad news. 

It’s safe to say people are exposing themselves to more news than ever. The term “newsie,” once used to describe people working in the news industry, is now applied to constant news watchers, who have become a prime target audience for advertisers. There has been a continuing shift away from reading newspapers and toward viewing Internet news sources, which bring us the insanity of the world moment to moment and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. TV watching, with its popular news-only channels, continues to rise. According to the 2010 Media Industry Fact Sheet put out by The Nielsen Company, the average American spends 31.5 hours a week watching TV. 

People say they watch the news to “stay informed.” This pat explanation sounds good-- at first. But it begs the larger question of why many choose to watch so much news and in so doing allow themselves to become, and remain, upset with the insanities and tragedies of the world.  

There is nothing wrong with keeping abreast of current events. As my son-in-law correctly points out, it makes one able to communicate intelligently with one’s peers, it facilitates social interaction, and it makes one knowledgeable enough to vote for those who best represent their beliefs. However, in my view, there is scant journalistic reporting to be found. Much passed off as facts and information is quite biased, and is really “infotainment.” As I see it, unconscious emotional factors are largely responsible for why people elect to keep up with the news. 

News-watching can serve a number of neurotic functions. It can alleviate boredom in those whose love and work lives are unfulfilling, it can serve as a distraction from the pressures and hardships of daily life, and it can bring some measure of excitement into otherwise deadened lives. Some are actually addicted to the emotional rush they get from exposure to the media. 

The daily news will “hit home” for everyone. There are so many emotionally grabbing stories in a given day that individuals can connect with, and get worked up about. One person, because of their particular character or emotional state, may become caught up with politics, another with the environment, and another with efforts to help children following a disaster. Such an extensive range of reporting is done, in no small part, to bring in the largest audience. The larger the audience, the greater the revenue for those who sponsor these “shows.”

The reporting of tragic events has an adverse effect on people who react in accordance with their specific character types. The depressed, who are often self-absorbed and apathetic can use the news to be roused from their low spirits, or it may drive them deeper into despair, giving them seemingly justified reasons for their despondency. The bipolar individual can be moved to act with poor judgement when in a manic state. The distrustful and suspicious, and those with paranoid ideation, have their fearfulness heightened. The news-involved hysteric overreacts with drama and great emotion. Because they are chronically anxious, the death and disaster scenarios they expose themselves to leave them in a state of even greater anxiety. 

From an orgonomic perspective, watching tragedies of all kinds play out in the news is not so different than going to see a movie where upsetting events are portrayed. In both, one becomes excited, the orgone energy in the body starts moving, and one begins to feel. But while a movie can be dismissed as mere entertainment, because the news is real, it upsets us more and has the capacity to evoke strong and deeply held feelings, especially sadness, fear and rage. 

If we tell to others about what we think and feel in response to the news, these emotions are allowed a degree of expression. Talking to those we know, expressing our outrage, writing letters to the editor, firing off angry e-mails to congresspersons, chatting or commenting on the Internet--all serve the function of allowing us to discharge some of the emotions that have been stirred up by current social and political events. These emotions are not necessarily caused by news-watching. They are already within us and become stirred-up. 

Watching the news and venting about it is an often vain attempt for people to make themselves feel better. Of course, to the extent that one becomes active and actually does something, for example engaging in a rescue operation, the degree of discharge and relief can be significant. However, psychiatric orgone therapy is a far better way to express and release deep, negative emotions. I believe it is the only way to forever remove them. It is my experience that with therapy people tend to become less focused on the insanities of the world and more focused on living quiet, family-centered lives. 

There is a dear price to be paid for being “informed.” While we may wish to do something in response to what we see, quite often there is nothing we personally can do. Only you will choose whether to tune in to the news or to tune it out. But, if you are one that regularly tunes in, you might ask yourself why. If the answer comes back “to keep informed” then take it a step further and ask yourself to justify your way of thinking. If watching the news enables you to cast your vote, fine. If it enables you to act in some truly meaningful way, fine. If it enables you to better deal with life situations, for yourself and others, fine. However, if none of the above apply, and if you are routinely upset by what you see, hear and read, then you should consider that there are deeper, concealed motives at work determining why you choose to be made upset. If this is you, consider a two-week experiment. It might not be easy, as detoxing from any addiction is not a simple matter. Expose yourself to no TV, no radio, no newspapers, and no magazines that report on daily current events. Listen to music, go outdoors, read books and spend time with loved ones (but don’t discuss world events). You might feel calmer, less upset and less worried. See how you feel. You can always go back. 

I, for one, don’t make a special effort to follow the news beyond local weather, traffic and airline conditions. As a consequence, those I know are sometimes surprised to find I haven’t learned about this or that BIG story. One might say, “don’t put your head in the sand.” That’s fine for those who want to be constantly upset about things over which the have no control. I don’t. 

Wilhelm Reich lived through incredibly turbulent political and social times and yet, quite remarkably, wrote almost nothing about day-to-day politics or events. With a few exceptions, when one reads Reich, there is no indication of the time period in which he lived and wrote. This makes his writing timeless and shows how much emphasis he placed on the “news” of the day--virtually none!

As a final thought, many bloggers tie their posts to current events and I may do this on occasion. However, just because another major news story is taking place doesn’t mean that I am going to write about it. My failure to comment doesn’t mean I don’t think it’s important. The fact is my interests, and those of my readers, are broader than the news of the hour. Wilhelm Reich’s ideas have relevance beyond what particular world insanity is taking place at the moment. So I say to those beleaguered and upset by the day's news and politics, you need not fear coming here.

When Reich Was Cool and Jazz Was Hot

I recently had the opportunity to correspond with blog follower Jessica Williams, a renowned musician and composer. Music critics have referred to her as one of the greatest pianists of our time, with a jazz style that is experimental and avant-garde. Ms. Williams has had a longstanding interest Wilhelm Reich’s work and, in 1979, made an LP record entitled Orgonomic Music. She has written beautifully about Reich and the emotional plague in her blog CURRENTS: The Collected Writings of Jessica Williams. 

If you haven’t yet heard Ms. Williams’ music, treat yourself and be carried away by her beautiful compositions and remarkable technique. She was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1948 and began piano lessons at the age of four. Remarkably, at seven, she entered the Peabody Conservatory of Music. As a teen she moved to Philadelphia and played with the quintet of Philly Joe Jones, who had been the drummer with Miles Davis’ band. She left for San Francisco in the 1970s, where she played with notables such as Eddie Harris, Tony Williams, Dexter Gordon and Stan Getz. Ms. Williams now resides in Olympia, Washington. Throughout her career, she recorded many general release records and CDs and presently has at least 40 CDs available for purchase. 

Ms. Williams told me of a particular concern she has with those who have set themselves up as authorities on Reich. I am now in the process of researching and writing on the issue that troubles her and will address it in a future post. It is good to know there are still artists out there who appreciate Reich’s work and want it kept free from distortion.  

In the past, there was a strong connection between Reich’s ideas and the art world. Myron Sharaf, author of Fury on Earth, the acclaimed biography of Reich, wrote a letter to the editor of the magazine Commentary in 1962. In it, he spoke of the “sweep and depth” of Reich’s influence on major contemporary American artists such as Saul Bellow, Norman Mailer, Karl Shapiro, and Paul Goodman. 

Reich’s influence was especially strong in New York during the late 1950s and early 1960s, when artists of all kinds were becoming fascinated with psychology. Some became involved in Freudian psychoanalysis while others were taken with Reich’s ideas. Many experienced some form of “Reichian” therapy. 

At this time, in many circles, Reich was the height of hipness. William S. Burroughs (1914-1997) mentored Jack Kerouac (1922-1969) and Allen Ginsberg (1926-1997). It is reported he introduced them to Reich’s writings. These three were the icons of the Beat Generation. Burroughs included many references to orgone energy and Reich’s research in his novels, Kerouac wrote of the orgone accumulator in On the Road, and Ginsberg corresponded with Reich about his own emotional concerns. 

Burroughs, Kerouac and Ginsberg and their followers frequented the Manhattan nightclubs, listening to the music of Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis, musicians Ginsberg dubbed as “secret heroes” to their group. It is evident, although not widely acknowledged or known, that Wilhelm Reich, jazz music, and the so-called Beat Generation are linked. 

At the same time, Reich’s ideas were generating interest among musicians. In the book Jazz Visions: Lennie Tristano and His Legacy, British jazz double bassist and record producer Peter Ind writes about Reich's influence on Tristano and other jazz musicians and artists during the 1950s, including Ronnie Ball and Gil Evans. Ind points out that the draw was that orgone therapy was less introspective and less cognitively-oriented than Freudian psychoanalysis.  

It is not accidental that orgone therapy was, and is, appealing to musicians who sense the energy in and around them and rely upon their contact with it to play. Musicians “spark” one another, making for performances where the energetic charge builds and affects both performers and audience. Hence it is said that performances are exciting, electrifying, thrilling, stirring, moving, stimulating, and so on. Also, when one is performing, they are feeling not thinking. Orgone therapy is, in part, about getting out of the world of the “thinking brain” and into the world of the “feeling body.” Improvisation, so fundamental to jazz, is not intellectual but spontaneous and immediate, free of conscious thought. I believe this can only be explained through an energetic connection. 

Emotions are based on the perception of the movement of orgone energy within the body. In fact, the word “emotion” is derived from the Latin emovere, which means “move.” It is also why we say we are moved when something, especially a musical piece, touches us emotionally. If a person’s energy is stagnant, they don’t feel much. However, if the energy becomes excited (as it does when one hears or plays music) and begins to move, the perception of feelings emerges. This is why music has the capacity to ignite deep feelings in both listener and performer. 

Just as some in the jazz world were being influenced by orgonomy, so too were practitioners of orgone therapy being influenced by the jazz scene. I am a fan of Thelonius Monk and heard him play in the 1960s and 1970s. I recall being with Dr. Morton Herskowitz when Monk was at the Showboat in Center City Philadelphia. Monk at times struck the treble keys not with his fingers but a two-foot long shoehorn, swaying from side to side, stamping time, and drinking whisky. Around the corner from the Showboat was Peps, another jazz emporium that brought in the finest musicians and vocalists. 

The Philly clubs, along with those in New York, were a center for the jazz greats, beginning in the late 1940s. I was fortunate to have seen many amazing musicians who were, or became, legends. I also grew friendly with a few. These experiences have added to my lifelong enjoyment of this wonderful musical genre.  

Those of my generation had the opportunity to live through a remarkable period of artistic and intellectual expression, a cultural wave that allowed Reich’s ideas to be embraced, for a time. I would even argue that Reich played a role in creating that wave, and hope one day history will properly recognize this contribution.

In the late 1960s, and even into the 1970s and 1980s, those of us involved in orgonomy held out hope that Reich’s discoveries would be accepted and really take off. That interest in orgone therapy would grow in an exponential fashion. We felt we were at the beginning. Unfortunately, the therapy I practice and know to be so beneficial has not caught on in the way we’d anticipated. There is far less interest in orgone therapy then there was decades ago. For example, while I do have a few patients who are artists, there is not nearly the demand for orgone therapy by those in the art world as there once was. 

On a personal level, I am glad to have helped many lead happier, more satisfying lives. Yet I do worry about the future of orgone therapy. Those few of us who continue to practice the treatment Reich pioneered are not young. Furthermore, beginning psychiatrists and psychologists have shown almost no interest to be trained in this unique method. My hope is that with the Internet people will not only come to know Reich in an intellectual way, but will also be inspired to experience the extraordinary therapy he pioneered. Perhaps some of these will then undertake training. In my experience, only by having therapy do people come to see the tremendous value of it and, by extension, the whole of Reich’s work. 

Through the years, gifted artists of all disciplines have experienced and benefitted from therapy. Correctly conducted therapy systematically loosens “armor,” chronic contractions within the body. Contractions are removed first in the upper body, which include the ocular, oral and cervical segments. Alleviating holding in these areas increases the flow of energy to the areas below, especially the thoracic (chest) segment which includes the shoulders, arms and hands. It is important to point out that armor is not not just physical but is also held in a person’s character. Character involves a complex set of thoughts and behaviors that have developed to defend against painful feelings.

The thoracic segment holds rage, reaching, longing and sobbing. During therapy sessions, as armor is dissolved, long-buried feelings that would otherwise remain unconscious are re-activated and their expression is allowed. For example, removal of armor might lead to feelings of heartbreaking sadness, which sobbing then relieves. With the breakdown of  armor, stronger contact with core feelings comes about and one feels better and more, emotionally and physically. Often even serious disorders such as chronic depression and bipolar illness can be treated effectively without psychotropic medications. It is truly a mind-body therapy. 

I have had the good fortune to treat a number of artists and virtually all have felt therapy has helped them with their artistic expression. Those who express their art with their arms, hands and chest are able to play their instrument, sing, or paint with more feeling. Their “mechanical” movements are not necessary improved, but their “heartfelt feelings” are better able to come though. This makes sense because reducing armor brings about better contact with the self and allows for freer expression of one’s individuality. Also, when energetic holding in the ocular (brain) segment is reduced, there is decreased intellectualization and increased spontaneity. Thinking always interferes with emotional and artistic expression. As Jessica Williams says: “Music doesn’t come from one’s hands. It comes from one’s HEART.” 

In my experience, therapy moves artists away from adherence to former, needed structure. For example, a patient of mine who is a painter had relied a great deal on copying and produced work that was detailed. She is happy to report she now is painting large, abstract forms in a much freer way. Transformations of this kind occur without any conscious effort on the artist’s part. Complexity gives way to more effortless expression of individuality. Art is performed more simply, one might say, more organically.

Of course, many vastly talented artists have not had psychiatric orgone therapy. Neurotic, and even psychotic, individuals can produce phenomenal work. Reich said artistic expression was able to come through “a hole” in the armor. However, painter Ken Noland, one of the best known color field painters, had a different perspective. In a January 2006 interview I conducted with him, he said he was not sure about a “hole" and that “probably armoring can be put in abeyance in creative circumstances, somehow put aside.” Sadly, Ken passed away on January 5th of this year. I will miss him. 

As for Jessica Williams, she says she has managed to discover a whole new type of music, which is not jazz. Instead of playing in smokey venues and immersing herself in all that such a lifestyle entails, she has chosen to focus on recording at her great piano right at home. She says: “Now my audiences are larger and the music, just as hip, is presented in the way it deserves. And I deserve.”  I feel much the same about my work, now, in the field of orgonomy. 

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Ms. Williams feels her most recent CD titled Jessica Williams: The Art of the Piano is her best yet. It is available for purchase along with her other music at http://jessicawilliams.com/cds/aotp.html. She is also working on a new CD, titled Touch.

Anti-Circumcision Group Needs Help

Georganne Chapin, Executive Director of Intact America, has just put out a message about an urgent and time-sensitive opportunity in the war against circumcision. The Massachusetts State Senate will consider the Male Genital Mutilation Bill on March 2nd, this coming Tuesday. If enacted, it would outlaw the genital mutilation of both young girls AND boys in that state.
The deadline is rapidly approaching and Intact America needs your help right now.  They are asking those who oppose circumcision to share their stories, and will make sure these personal testimonials are heard by the Joint Committee on Tuesday. This as a unique opportunity for those who feel strongly about this issue to have their voices heard and influence decision-making.  Whether you or a loved one has been harmed by circumcision, now is the time to give your statement. In fact, Ms. Chapin says anyone who opposes the practice can and should speak up now. 

Intact America has made submitting your testimony for Tuesday’s meeting really easy. Just click the link at the end of this post and you can share your story or opinion via the Intact America site. I will be submitting my testimony in this way and encourage those reading this post who oppose circumcision to do the same. It will only take a few minutes. Submissions must be in before Tuesday. 

As a psychiatrist, I am in the unique position of seeing the emotional devastation that circumcision can cause for those who have undergone this horrific experience. Many still think that if we don’t consciously remember traumatic events from infancy and early childhood, they don’t effect us. I know otherwise. In the course of the unique form of therapy that I practice, long repressed feelings and emotions that result from early painful, traumatic experiences are often relived. I know this is difficult to believe, especially for those who are unfamiliar with this method of treatment, but I have watched men in therapy re-experience their circumcisions, wide-eyed with terror and writhing in pain. There is no mistake about this. The circumcision experience has been locked within them throughout their lives and has adversely effected many aspects of their functioning. Thankfully, with therapy, they are often able to overcome this trauma and lead happier lives.


To submit your testimony click here. 

In appreciation of blog followers who make their statement to the Massachusetts State Senate, I will send them the first-of-its-kind official “Wilhelm Reich Today” coffee travel mug! The mug says: 

If Not Now--When? 

“Wilhelm Reich Today” 

orgonomist.blogspot.com 

Just email a note to info@thewilhelmreichcenter.com saying you have submitted your testimony, along with your name and shipping address, and your mug will be sent to you. Unfortunately, due to the cost of shipping, this offer has to be limited to those who live within the contiguous United States.